Chapter 30
THIRTY
Grandma Joy’s Words of Wisdom:
‘Don’t try to do something, just do it. You either do it or you don’t.’
‘You off to lunch?’ asked Linda from behind the reception desk at Harbourside Towers.
‘Soon, but first I’m taking a little detour to the boss’s office.’ Miranda waved a piece of paper and grinned.
‘Your resignation?’
Miranda nodded.
‘Won’t be the same without you here.’ Linda pouted.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll still be walking through the golden doors every day, I’ll just be on level two instead.’
‘When do you start?’
‘First week of January, I’ll only have a day to recover from the New Year’s ball!’
‘You better go easy on the champers then.’ Linda winked .
‘I’ll try! See you after lunch.’ Miranda waltzed to the boss’s office, and within minutes had given her notice. December twenty-third would be her last shift, and thankfully not a night shift. Miranda’s interview at the hotel’s salon had gone swimmingly, and although she hadn’t expected to hear back for at least a week, Jill had called the next day offering her the job. She was now ‘ Miranda Sheppard: full time beauty therapist at Harbourside Haven’.
She couldn’t have found a more glamorous place to work. Hopefully Mr Gellerman’s hairy back wouldn’t follow her there from City Beauty though. She was doing her last shift there this weekend, and could say her goodbyes then. Miranda felt bad leaving her brief position there after finally returning from having time off, only to tell them she’d got another job. As compensation she planned on bringing them a bunch of flowers, and would pass on the name of a friend from beauty college who was looking for extra work.
Miranda strode outside onto the busy street, ignoring the wink from David as she passed his desk. She’d still have to face him every day, but at least they wouldn’t be within sight of each other all the time, unless he decided to make use of his staff discount at the salon. She wouldn’t put it past him; those eyebrows did look rather neat for a guy.
The summer heat bounced off the sidewalk and onto her face, and Miranda slid on her sunglasses. Her phone beeped with a text from Cara:
Book me in as yr first client in Jan, going mad here )
Miranda texted a quick reply and continued walking. Poor Cara, she’d arrived late yet again to last night’s meeting, blaming it on crowds at Target. Apparently, she hadn’t had time to eat any dinner, which explained why the plate of shortbread biscuits disappeared so quickly when Liz set it down. It was a fun night, despite the dampener on everyone’s mood when Liz explained Gina’s absence and told of her miscarriage. Although she hadn’t become that close to Gina, Miranda liked her and hoped she’d find the happiness she deserved.
Pushing open the door of Skyline Café, and pushing her sunglasses on top of her head, Miranda saw him. He sat at a window table, running a hand through his wavy hair, his cute crooked smile acknowledging her entrance. After sharing a (non-pineapple) pizza with him at Byron Bay, Matt had asked for her phone number, and they agreed to meet up again the following week.
‘Nice to see you again,’ he said, as Miranda sat.
‘Sorry I’m a bit late, I had to talk to my boss.’
‘Did you get in trouble?’ He flashed a cheeky grin.
‘Nope, I actually resigned!’
‘Really?’
‘Yep, I’m starting a new job at the hotel beauty salon in January.’
‘Congratulations! Are you excited?’
‘Very much. It’s exactly the sort of place I wanted to work at.’ Miranda smiled.
‘I’m very happy for you, it’s so important to be in a job you love.’
His eyes. Oh, his eyes. ‘Definitely. How’s your job, are you working today?’
‘It’s great, although I’m on night shift tonight.’
‘Oh, shouldn’t you be at home sleeping in preparation?’
‘I can never sleep in the middle of the day before the first night shift, I’ll wait till later this afternoon to try for a bit of shut-eye, then catch up tomorrow.’ He took a swig of water, and Miranda found herself hypnotised by the movement of his Adam’s apple.
‘Ah, the joys of shift work. You’d think the patients could look after themselves for a night so the nurses can sleep, huh?’
‘I know! How rude of them.’ Matt shared a laugh with Miranda, as the waitress came over.
After ordering, eating, and sharing stories of their night shift adventures, Miranda, despite the bubbles of nerves inside, summoned the courage to ask Matt a question. ‘Matt, there’s this ball that the hotel’s hosting, it’s an annual charity fundraiser, and a whole lot of fun, and ... I have a spare ticket and wondered if you’d like to go?’
‘Oh, when is it?’ He raised his eyebrows.
‘It’s a New Year’s Eve ball, so if I’m correct that would make it on the ... um...’ Miranda tapped at her temple. ‘...thirty-first of December!’
Matt chuckled at her little joke, then his smile flattened out. ‘Unfortunately, I can’t. I have to work that night. But thanks for asking, it sounds like it would be a great night.’
Damn! ‘No problem, if you’ve gotta work – you’ve gotta work.’ Miranda drowned her disappointment with a sip of water, and changed the subject. ‘So, have you cut off anyone else’s expensive dress lately?’
Oh God. Did I really just say that?
‘Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la!’ Miranda swayed as the Christmas carollers sang to an admiring audience in the hotel lobby. Pedro placed a friendly arm around her and joined in the swaying.
‘Make sure you come visit us at reception next year, don’t be a stranger.’ Pedro wagged his finger at Miranda.
‘Of course I’ll visit, as long as you sneak me a chocolate or two from Linda’s stash when she’s not looking, like the good old times.’
‘You got it.’ Pedro raised his hand and Miranda high-fived it.
‘Miranda, before you go...’ Linda scurried out from behind the reception desk with a Christmas cracker in her hand, holding one end out to her.
‘Oh, I love these things!’ Miranda pulled it, a rewarding snap sounding.
‘Must be your lucky day,’ Linda said, Miranda holding the long end of the cracker. ‘What did you get?’
She tipped the cracker over and a plastic whistle popped out. ‘Goodie, now I can whistle from level two when I need you guys.’ Closing her lips around it, she gave a little blow, hardly noticeable for the volume of the carollers.
‘Keep it in your pocket. If David winks at you when you walk past, go up to him and blow it in his ear.’ Linda chuckled.
‘Good idea! Anyway, I’m officially finished here, so I best be on my way. Have a great Christmas, you guys, I’ll see you at the ball?’
‘You bet,’ said Linda.
‘Not me, someone’s gotta man this desk at night.’
‘Oh Pedro, you poor thing. See if you can duck up for a quick dance on your break.’
‘I’ll try.’
After hugging her colleagues, Miranda headed towards the staff car park. Checking her phone, she noticed there were three messages. The first was from her mother:
Need u to pick up Xmas ham from Bookers Butchery in City Central Plaza by 7pm, they r expecting u. My fridge died & all food went off – argh! Bookers r the only place who had one left. Mum xx
The second message was also from Miranda’s mother:
Did u get my msg? Make sure u get ham, otherwise no Xmas lunch for us! Call me. Mum xx
The third message was from Matt:
Have swapped shifts for NYE, any tickets left for ball? If so, book me in!
Miranda stopped in her tracks, heart fluttering. She dashed back into the lobby, excitement rising and her heels clicking on the floor. Yes!
‘Miss us already, huh?’ Linda’s confused face greeted Miranda as she practically crashed into the reception desk.
‘Quick, open up the booking window, for the ball!’ Miranda demanded, peering over the computer monitor. ‘Are there any complimentary tickets left? Are there? Are there?’
‘Hold your horses, girl, let me check...’ Linda tapped away at the keyboard, while the carollers sang ‘Joy to The World’. Linda glanced up at Miranda. ‘You’re in luck, there’s one left. Who am I booking in?’
‘Mr Matt Cordella.’
‘Oooh, anyone special?’ Linda raised an eyebrow.
‘Yes, I believe he is.’